Telegram-herald., 1887-09-07
FOR THE SOLDIERS
HOW NAY THElR FsMlues lNs
Why Net Alle~ fsfsr4ks wso are ssrrisa
~ Live 81 Hsa~s Wass WEsosssis
IL DsinE Nseaix.s aeNs
- ss Crewesd
70 tAe EaitaE q he TEIEskA2-HERaIbs

te the k1'tsT II he TElEskAA-HEKzLb
AfcEIszS .soLDIsss' HosE sept g.
some time age lad the plsssurs u calling
xtieRtson 10 tAs pressing need 0t mssy
soldiers wives and Widows tsroashoul eur
state. slso hsd ths pleasure Of knowing
that nv appeal Was net utterly Ia vain.
LEI Us hope tse good seed is taking rect ia
tbs generous hearts Of our people even
though bat little fraitsze hss yet appeared.
! wss profoundly eonsinoed Of Tie jusinsss
OF the caase I Was advocating. though l
must o0aisss hss bat iittie Lope OF ever
seeing Soldiers Wives hosae al sooom-
plisAed fact. Bat TO- this weeks Aaflesai
IrteUA< brings us the news lhkt Wisconsin
has already moyee ia this matter
and has established state Home tor vet
eraas OF the war and their wives and tue
widows of deceased soldiers"
The site has been selected Al Green wood
Park. near WAupscs. While this news will
DC received with JOY and priss, yet can
not help saying shame on Michigan. thai
she has not only neglected TO make any
provision for the soldier family, wife. or
widow. but actually backed out when II
had begun to grant 4 small plttance 10 the
sick soldier a. bis home so thst Le could
remain ri home and be cared for there. en q
II il must needs be. die there rstker than
De torn from his home 10 die among strsn-
gers.
The utterly useless cruelty of this is seen
when we know that it actually costs the
State nearly twice. II not over twice as
| much 10 keep q soldier here sepa ate from
mis- family az II paid 10 him while al homel
The money that il costs 10 keep soldier
here would provide for q small family very
comfortably indeed. Why not then give
the soldier who has q family his choice in
this matter when IL would save the State
Thousands of dollars each year, and add
nuRdredfold TO the comfort and happiness
of many family now divided and IN
want?
General Alger, in his last speech at
Adrian, lean / quote more honored aa-
| thority?) said:
Soldiers, there are many things your
| due from the Government yet that have not
been paid. Never stop your asking
for them until yen get them" You
will notice. however, ! am not asking
| Tor something more so much as something
| different. | have not advocated building
home or homes for the soldier and his wife
In connection With the present Home or
| anywhere else.
| think such an experiment Is likely to
| prove an ignorhinious failure. Many q
| soldiers wife or widow has been well edu-
Gated and reared In good society. She never
| could endure this promiscuous nerdins. Ii
is bad enough, God knows, for q sensitive,
| virtuous, well-bred man who has seen bet
ter days. How much worse would 1t be
for a sensitive, purc-mindeo, well-bred
womanl / am sure that the majority of
soldiers who have families do not want any
| such institution as Wisconsin is now just
starting. The hundreds of thousands Of
| dollars which IL will cost to build
and maintain these cottages would
keep every disabled married soldier In CON-
parative independence all his days in his
own cottage, in his own chosen village
among his own kindred and friends and no
costly buildings would be left to rot when
he, weary at last, lays down to his eternal
rest
There is no place like home"
The Michigan Soldiers Home Is likely TO
be crammed this Winter. Why net provide
| room by allowing married soldiers who SO
| desire TO stay with their families, and give
| them under proper restrictions and through
| well guarded channels, monthly or quar-
| terly allowances
| In this way many q burdened wife's
heart will be made glad, and many chill
| dren be comfortably clad and fed this
| Winte- who otherwise will be shivering
4
| of sufficient and suitable food.
| The beauty of all this, oh. ye grumbling
taxpayers, is that it will be great saving
| to the State.
| The appropriation will shen last, and
| those who remain in the Home can have
some comforts which they are now de-
prived of because the Comnandsnt is con-
stantly urged TO practice economy"
In thiSway philanthropy and economy
can be welded. and Wisconsin cannot point
the finger of scorn at US on account OF our
indifference as to what Is really the ques-
tion Of prime importance-the proper care
| of the soldiers widow. orpbsns. wife or
children. We come very far short OF our
| dnty when we care for the veteran and yet
fesve his family TO starye; and If we can
provide fop him and his family too for less
| money than it now costs to keep him alone,
what possible excuse have We to render
shall be glad TO hear any reasonable OBJ
iections which can he raised against this
| view of this important matter.
Respectfully submitted
CLtRK GIBSON,
Acting thspiain